US airstrike kills senior Hurras al-Din leader in Syria
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The strike follows another US operation on February 22, in which Wasim Tahsin Bayraqdar, another leader of the organization, was also killed.
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CENTCOM Forces Kill the Senior Military Leader of Al-Qaeda Affiliate Hurras al-Din (HaD) in Syria. (Screengrab)
The US military confirmed on Saturday that a senior military leader of the Al-Qaeda-linked group Hurras al-Din was killed in a precision airstrike in northwest Syria. The operation, conducted by the US Central Command (CENTCOM) on February 23, targeted Muhammed Yusuf Ziya Talay, a key figure in the militant group.
In an official statement, CENTCOM announced, "[Our] forces on February 23 conducted a precision airstrike in Northwest Syria, targeting and killing Muhammed Yusuf Ziya Talay, the senior military leader of the terrorist organization Hurras al-Din."
CENTCOM Forces Kill the Senior Military Leader of Al-Qaeda Affiliate Hurras al-Din (HaD) in Syria
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 1, 2025
On Feb. 23, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces conducted a precision airstrike in Northwest Syria, targeting and killing Muhammed Yusuf Ziya Talay, the senior military leader of… pic.twitter.com/trhDvgdgne
The strike follows another US operation on February 22, in which Wasim Tahsin Bayraqdar, another leader of the organization, was also killed.
Although Hurras al-Din declared its dissolution in late January, US forces have continued to target its leadership. The group, which the United States considers a terrorist organization, had been active in northwestern Syria, operating from mountainous areas and including foreign jihadists among its ranks.
Read more: US increasing strikes against al-Qaeda off-shoot Hurras al-Din
The announcement of the group's disbandment came after a rebel coalition, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), overthrew President Bashar al-Assad and took control of Damascus on December 8. Following these events, Hurras al-Din stated it was no longer needed.
Despite this, US military operations in Syria remain ongoing. American forces have been occupying the northern region of the country since 2014 under the pretext of combating the Islamic State (IS) and other extremist groups. CENTCOM has not ruled out further strikes against remaining elements of Hurras al-Din or other jihadist factions operating in the region.
